Page 10 of Haunted By Sin
The Bureau had reached out to Brook a couple of hours ago and politely requested she put together a press release. They were basically covering their asses, demanding that S&E Investigations convey the importance that anyone with the name Mary Jane Reynolds living in the state of Michigan should keep a close eye on her surroundings. Should anything stand out, they were to contact their local police. The FBI had also stressed to Brook that the press release wasn’t meant to cause panic, leaving her in a very precarious situation.
With Theo driving to Mount Pleasant in the next couple of days, that still left two crime scenes that hadn’t been walked through by someone on the team. Granted, those locations had been released to the families of the victims, but it would still be beneficial to the investigation to get a firsthand examination.
Local police reports sometimes left out details that came into play later, and those detectives hadn’t known to look for any connections to other crimes. Given that Lansing was only an hour and a half away from Crestlake, it was less time than it would take Theo to drive to Mount Pleasant.
Sylvie understood that the others were concerned for her health, but she had been cleared for fieldwork by her physician. An expert’s opinion held more weight than the concern of friends, and she meant that in the nicest way possible. Maybe, just maybe, taking some time to get her feet back underneath her was exactly what she needed for some normalcy.
Chapter Six
Theo Neville
May 2024
Friday — 5:21 pm
The patrons of Crestlake Bar & Grill were reveling in their Friday night freedom after a grueling workweek. Every table, chair, and stool was occupied by individuals eager to unwind and let loose. The air was alive with the sound of laughter, glasses clinking together in celebration, and silverware clanking against plates as delicious food was devoured. The lively chatter and upbeat music from the live band drowned out the usual peaceful existence surrounding the lake.
As Theo closed the distance to the bar, his presence was observed by the bartender. Chip lifted a hand and gestured toward the side entrance. Theo nodded his appreciation before advancing in that direction. He didn’t have to walk far, though. A young man clutching an empty gray container emerged from around the corner toward what had to be the only empty table on the pier.
“Jason Bracco?” Theo had made sure to hold up his credentials. He didn’t react at all when Jason’s gaze was drawn to the black eyepatch. “I’m Theo Neville, and I work for a private investigative firm. We’re consulting with the FBI on an active investigation. I’d like to ask you a few questions regarding an altercation that happened here last weekend.”
“You’re talking about Mary Jane,” Jason said with a nod of understanding. His gaze drifted toward a table. Theo had already been made aware that Mary Jane and her sister had planned an evening out with their friends. The media presence had died off, and she was now going about her daily routine with a lot more followers. Brook spoke to Mary Jane this afternoon on the phone to clarify some information. “After that video she posted the other day, that’s all anyone can talk about. Are you thinking the drunk guy that hit on her killed those other women?”
“We’re just gathering information,” Theo explained, purposefully keeping his response vague. He slipped his credentials back into the pocket of his khakis. “Would you walk me through what happened last weekend?”
“A guy got a little handsy with some of the ladies, and a few of the other customers escorted him to the parking lot. I helped, but only to make sure that the guy didn’t get into his car,” Jason explained as he continued to load the dirty dishes into the gray container. “The owners have a strict policy about not allowing our patrons to drink and drive if we believe they’ve had one too many.”
“I take it that Mary Jane Reynolds is a regular here?” Theo asked, wanting a little more background. “What about her fiancé?”
“Mary Jane is usually here with her sister and friends. Usually on a Saturday night. There is a local bar in town that a lot of people go to on Friday evenings.” Jason reached for the empty glasses. “As for Adam, not so much. I think he travels a lot for his job.”
“It sounds like you know them pretty well,” Theo observed as he shifted his stance so that he had a better view of the patrons. No one seemed particularly interested in Mary Jane’s table. “Are you a local?”
“Born and raised,” Jason said, though not with pride. “Went to college, got a job in Lansing, and then was laid off six months later. I had no choice but to move back home.”
“It’s not easy out there,” Theo said in commiseration before steering the conversation back to the topic at hand. “What about the man you helped escort to the parking lot? Is he a local?”
“No,” Jason said with a shake of his head. He took the wet rag that had been hanging over the side of the gray bucket and began to wipe down the table. “Vacationer. He kept complaining about the drivers between here and Mount Pleasant. Made it sound like he had dodged bullets rather than slow cars on his way to Crestlake. He was a bit dramatic, but it was probably the alcohol talking. Hunter might know more.”
“Hunter?”
“Hunter Darrisaw. He and Mindy served the tables last Saturday night.” Jason motioned toward a young woman setting two plates of food down in front of a couple. “Hunter has the night off, though. He got tickets to the comedy club in town.”
Theo made a mental note to speak with Hunter at a later date.
“Was the intoxicated patron by himself?”
“Yeah.” Jason tossed the rag on top of the dirty dishes, but he made no move to pick up the gray bucket. “Come to think of it, I found it odd that he chose to sit at one of the tables instead of the bar.”
“Do you know if Mary Jane was already seated at her table? Or did she and her party arrive afterward?”
“I couldn’t tell you, man.”
“Did the guy pay for his drinks with cash or card?"
"I’m not sure." A crease formed between Jason’s brows as he clearly fought for a memory that was within countless of interactions that he had on a daily basis. "Actually, I'm not sure. You would have to check with Hunter or Chip. Mindy was working last weekend, but I don’t think the guy sat in her section. You can ask her, though."
"Thanks, Jason.” Theo reached into his other pocket to collect one of his business cards. He extended his hand, offering Jason his contact information. "If you think of anything else that sticks out to you, give me a call. Also, if the guy comes back here, I’d really appreciate it if you gave me a heads-up."